As Sheila Lin’s Fourth of July party begins, Katarina arrives outside the academy to find Ellis Dean waiting in a flashy white convertible. Arielle has dressed and styled Katarina for the party, but instead of feeling fully confident, Katarina becomes intensely aware of her body in the borrowed dress. Thinking about how her height, curves, and muscular legs set her apart from more conventionally built skaters, Katarina worries about whether she looks appropriate and whether she belongs in this glamorous new world.

Ellis quickly reassures Katarina, telling her she looks hot and assuming Heath will be impressed. Katarina expects Heath to show up without issue, but when he finally appears, his mood immediately changes the atmosphere. Heath is late, unshaven, and dressed casually in a black T-shirt and jeans, and he refuses Katarina’s attempt at physical closeness by keeping his hand in his pocket and climbing silently into the backseat.

On the drive, Katarina tries to smooth things over by complimenting Ellis’s car. Ellis jokes about the extravagant wealth of the people around them, explaining that the convertible was a castoff from Josie’s family, while Heath responds with a bitter comment about how the rich must live. The exchange highlights Heath’s resentment and discomfort, while Katarina begins to recognize that Ellis’s effortless persona is something carefully constructed rather than natural.

As Ellis drives along the Pacific Coast Highway, Katarina finally sees more of Los Angeles beyond the airport and the academy. The vivid scenery and ocean air make the city feel almost unreal after weeks in the sterile training environment. When they turn through a guarded gate and follow a winding driveway up the hill to Sheila Lin’s mansion, Ellis names it the Ice Palace, and the chapter ends with Katarina and Heath arriving at the center of Sheila’s wealthy, exclusive social world.